The buzz you get at Starbucks will soon come from something other than your daily cup of joe. The coffee behemoth has tested evening beer and wine offerings at select locations in Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR — including the original Starbucks location — since fall 2010. Now, according to a company press announcement, the chain will extend the evening concept to several of their cafés in Southern California and Atlanta by the end of the year. This expansion follows news announced last year that the company will include beer and wine in several of its Chicago stores by the end of 2012.

A menu of upscale small plates and flatbreads have been introduced as companions for the drinks. Stores receiving the upgrade will be remodeled and outfitted with refurbished bars and new seating to attract and properly accommodate the evening crowd.

The chain hopes those looking to find a spot for their book club meetings or to gather after movie night will find the new atmosphere conducive for such outings. "As our customers transition from work to home, many are looking for a warm and inviting place to unwind and connect with the people they care about," Clarice Turner, senior vice president of U.S. Operations said in the news release.

According to the Associated Press, the boozy beverages will not be sold until the afternoon hours and the company does not plan to offer the new items in all of its more than 1,000 outlets.

Starbucks is not alone in its desire to attract barflies. Last summer, Sonic announced it would add beer and wine to the menus in its South Florida locations, and Burger King's tricked out Whopper Bars in New York, Las Vegas, Miami, and Kansas City all offer a selection of beers. In December, we also reported that White Castle began testing beer offerings in one Louisiana location.

Why are these chains opening the bottles? Ron Paul, president at the restaurant consulting firm Technomic, told USA Today that adding beer and wine is a strategy the fast-casual eateries are employing to boost slower evening sales.

Starbucks has received positive feedback from the experiment so far. "We're pleased with the response of our customers to the introduction of wine, beer, and premium food at several of our stores in the Pacific Northwest, and we're excited to see how the idea translates to other markets," said Turner. But while many welcome the idea of enjoying a glass of alcohol at Starbucks, not everyone is in favor of the booze news.

Starbucks is considered a safe hangout for teens and a local spot for kids do their homework. Many parents have voiced their dissenting views. One parent commented on an MSNBC report about the planned changed that parents don't "want their kids to sit next to drunk adults."

Do you support the idea of having wine and beer at your local Starbucks? Or would you prefer that Starbucks stick to their espressos and caramel macchiatos and stay away from the harder stuff?